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Othellos desdemona is a victim of her virtues
Character analysis of the play Othello
Othellos desdemona is a victim of her virtues
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Loyalty is a fundamental characteristic of humanity that constitutes the foundations of relationships. It can be molded or forged to benefit a calculating individual. Integrity can be manipulated in order to shift alliances however certain characters remain true to their initial allegiance, such as Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Othello. Fidelity is called into question within the play, although virtue is constantly demonstrated. Women in the late 16th century were seen as completely pure or evil, and so opinions of them changed and formed against them easily. The first the audience hears of Desdemona, she is accused of elopement, which Shakespeare expresses with the metaphor, “You have lost half your soul”. This statement addresses the woman’s father, in reference to how child and parent are bonded …show more content…
Shakespeare employs symbolism through the handkerchief as a token of love and faithfulness. When the protagonist is shown this token is no longer with Desdemona, rage incites within him and he strikes her out of pain and jealousy. Shakespeare uses this symbol to show that objects given in love and trust are directly connected to one’s integrity, and abuse of said trust results in broken faith. The composer uses a visual imagery metaphor in the protagonist’s dialogue stating his heart had “turned to stone” in relation to his wife. Through this change Desdemona is unaware of her alleged infidelity and so continues to act, as usual, oblivious to what it may seem like to Othello. The protagonist’s jealousy eventually drives him to murder his wife, who with her final words proclaims that she has committed suicide in order to acquit Othello from any blame. Shakespeare concludes the play with the dramatic irony of the emotive “she loved thee, cruel Moor”. This statement shows the audience that when caught up in orchestrated jealousy, one forgets true loyalty and tends to act
Sometimes people never know how another person’s actions affect them until it is too late. Shakespeare’s Othello rings true to this belief. Ever faithful to the “bro-code”, Othello strongly listens to Brabantio’s sullen advice, and warps Othello’s perception of his marriage to Desdemona. Othello believes every man in this play, but he does not believe in the woman who pledges her life to Othello even though Desdemona allows herself to marry in an unorthodox fashion. If it were not for Brabantio’s negative outburst, Othello’s small mind acquires no seeds of doubt towards his beloved wife Desdemona, and Shakespeare’s Othello premise ceases to exist.
In the play, Othello by William Shakespeare throughout the entire play it had portrayed symbolism and foreshadowing. These had influenced the most of the characters to act in a foolish ways. This leads us to a suspense ending that caused loved ones to go against each other. By not realizing what is going on between the characters can cause confusing in the plans of the play. Likewise, by connecting each of the following character made it seem we might have knew something was going to happen at the end. Throughout the play we are able to recognize that the handkerchief is played as an important part with all the characters. This is done by showing how each one of the characters is acting with it being loss. Due to it being misplaced some of the characters will do something they normally wouldn’t have done.
Iago talks about jealousy and deception in this same scene, but never gives any proof or direct descriptions of Desdemona's betrayal. Yet we know that Othello's perception has been sufficiently influenced to make him angry and sick by the end of this conversation. He tells Desdemona he has a headache, but he refuses any help from her. When she puts her handkerchief to his head, he pushes it away saying, "your napkin is too little" (3.3.285). This takes on more significance later on in the play when we find out that this handkerchief is the first token of love Othello ever gave to Desdemona.
In the play Othello, the “aha” moment, the epiphany, and when the truth is revealed is when Othello discovers that all ideas that Iago put into his head about Cassio sleeping with Desdemona, the handkerchief, her being a whore were all just a lie and Iago, his so called “best friend” lied to him. . This scene takes place in Act five scene two, Emilia quotes “By heaven I do not, gentlemen. O mud’rous coxcomb! What should such a fool. Do with so good a wife.” This is the truth moment in which it affects Othello. Tension is released because of this since Othello now comes to the realization that he was lied to and we see how he is affected by the truth in this act when he quotes “ Are there no stones in heaven but what serves for the thunder?
...3-96. The argument between Desdemona and Othello his tone becomes violent. Othello continues his irrational obsession with the handkerchief where Desdemona unintentionally infuriates Othello’s anger and jealousy. Shakespeare's use of repetition of "the handkerchief” creates great effect in the final scene because of the power of proof the handkerchief beholds. Othello found it so hard to believe and forgive his wife Desdemona, after knowing she had also lied to her own father about marriage neither Barbatio or Othello accepted the fact they had been betrayed . Like Martha Widmayer mentions “ Infidelity is no “small vice” to Othello and Brabantio, each of ho willingly pays the “great price” of the loss of his world, Desdemona, rather than tolerate betrayal.”
Within Shakespeare’s Othello there is an analysis into the context of the female. Brabantio’s rhyming couplet “Look to her, Moor, If thou hast eyes to see/ She has deceived her father, and may thee,” demonstrates his domineering and patronising attitude, as the Elizabethan era was a patriarchal society and the role of the female was to be ‘obedient’ to their father or husband. Brabantio also endeavours into placing a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind as a result of his jealousy. Consequentially Brabantio objectifies Desdemona when he states, “Where has thou stow’d my daughter?” exemplifying how he deems her as a possession, which can be stolen like any other. Othello prolongs this objectification through asserting that he “won his daughter” portraying Desdemona as a prize to be won, and a possession to be owned and argued over by husband and father. Desdemona is depicted early on in the play as the “angel” wi...
Continuing Act three, Scene three, Othello feels the beginning of a headache. Desdemona offers Othello a handkerchief to ease the pain upon Othello’s forehead. The handkerchief is a gift from Othello to Desdemona as a symbol of the love shared by Othello and Desdemona. In Othello’s pain the handkerchief falls from Othello’s hand and Emilia steals the handkerchief. Iago uses the characters of the play as pawns, including wife Emilia. Jealousy is the fuel and the handkerchief is the spark. With the handkerchief in Iago’s possession, Iago can continue to spin the web of lies and deceit. Iago plans to leave the handkerchief in Cassio’s lodgings to further support the suspicion of Desdemona’s infidelity.
The society in which Othello takes place is a patriarchal one, where men had complete control over women. They were seen as possessions rather than being just as equally human and capable of duties performed by men. All women of the Elizabethan were to obey all men, fathers, brothers, husbands, etc. Which leads me to the most reliable and trustworthy character of Desdemona, whom goes through many trials just to satisfy her love. Shakespeare brings the thought of Desdemona into the play by Barbantio, her father, “It is too true an evil. Gone she is....Oh, she deceives me Past thought! …” (1.1.163)(1.1.168-169), whom has just found she has taken off with Othello and firstly suspects they have been hitched. Shakespeare gives reader the impression Desdemona is a devious imp full of disrespect towards her father. However, surpassing normal tradition of asking of her fathers’ permission to wed, Desdemona ran off and did marry the moor. This in a sense was her emancipation of her father’s possessiveness and oblivion of Othello’s dominance over her. Othello replies to Barbantio’s accusation, sedating or using black magic on his daughter, by saying, “My very noble and approved good masters, That I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter. It is most true.” (1.3.79-81), which brings me to the claim that Desdemona’s character in this tragedy, was only to become and to serve as Othello’s private possession rather than a typical beloved daughter or wife as in modern time. Shakespeare bases this tragedy on the foundation of Desdemona’s character by the symbol of the discrimination of women in the Shakespearean time era. Desdemona even for the first and only time within the play stands up and challenges her inferiority under her father’s aut...
When first introduced, Othello, the Moor, seems to be committed to his beautiful wife, Desdemona, and to the army of which he is general. Yet, as time progresses and after being put in difficult circumstances, his loyalty takes a different form. A struggle between opposing loyalties begins to emerge. Convinced his wife is cheating on him with Lieutenant Cassio, Othello seeks to preserve his honor of having a chaste wife, to the point of
In Shakespeare’s play Othello, the male characters perceive women as adulterous and property, treating them as inferior that need to be submissive and obey. Iago creates a false perception of his wife thinking she is promiscuous. Also, Othello sees his wife as promiscuous, an impression created by his jealousy and one he has convinced himself of it. Furthermore, Iago and Othello perceive their wives as inferior, and by his words, the reader can see that they are both their wife and subordinate. At last, the male characters refer to Desdemona’s marriage as a “steal” and “purchase” of property, then, Iago and Othello end their wives’ lives because they see them as possessions of no good.
In Othello, the evil villain Iago, tricks Othello into thinking his wife is having an affair with someone else. Iago hates Othello with a passion simply because he over looked him in a promotion and chose someone else instead. Othello becomes so enthralled in his jealousy that he ends up killing his wife, Desdemona. Desdemona was pure and she always remained firm in her loyalty and devotion to Othello. Even when she knew she was about to die she remained strong, “I never did offend you in my life; never loved Cassio but with such general warranty of heaven as I might love” (Othello). Iago’s wife, Emilie, died as well by the hands of her husband. She told Othello the truth about what her husband did and that Desdemona was innocent. Because of this, her husband killed her. Shakespeare uses these two women to represent the wrongs of society. “Shakespeare uses Othello to identify the repression of women as a social evil”
From this point on, Othello insecurity manifests into a seemingly irrational fear of being cuckolded, and his self-perceived worth diminishes exponentially. Othello comments on the likelihood of Desdemona cheating, by explaining how it may be “for [he is] black / And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have…” (3.3.280-282) Othello’s frustration with the threat of being cuckolded puts strain on his relationship with Desdemona, and she quickly becomes a victim of domestic abuse. For example, Othello acts as an interrogator, demanding to see the handkerchief which he gave her that symbolizes faithfulness and commitment towards Othello. (Quotation) When she is unable to produce their symbol of trust, Othello’s anger manifests inside him. The audience is shown a stark contrast to Othello’s typically cool, collected and composted nature. This abrupt and irrational change in behaviour is emphasized when Othello strikes Desdemona in front of Lordovico, (4.1.245) Othello’s
The tragedy of Othello, written by William Shakespeare, presents the main character Othello, as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man, but because of his insecurities and good nature, he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his peers and alleged friends. The dynamic of Othello’s character significantly changes throughout the play. The contrast is most pronounced from the beginning of the play to its conclusion, switching from being calm and peaceful to acts of uncontrolled venomous rage. Othello’s motivation in the play appears to be his love and concern for his wife Desdemona, which ironically, ends up being his downfall in the end.
How can one small piece of fabric manifest so much havoc? In William Shakespeare’s Othello, there is great significance of a powerful symbol that completely alters the fate of the story. “In the case of the handkerchief, it stands for several things, things that cannot be seen” (Hacht 663). This symbol, the handkerchief, is given to Desdemona by Othello, as a token of his love, and to their new beginnings as husband and wife. However, the meaning of the handkerchief is viewed differently in various characters perspectives. Reaching the hands of most of the characters, this item results in a sense of irony. What was anticipated to be the start of a new beginning, ultimately turns that vision into an abrupt end.
Trustworthiness is an important component throughout Othello by William Shakespeare. Relationship between two people must be based on trust in order to be long-lasting. However, trust is just a belief that the individual may have for someone and it cannot be seen because feelings are often constructs which makes it vulnerable to be manipulated. In the play, it was due to Othello trusting nature towards Iago that made him gullible and easy to manipulate into what Iago wants him to see or to believe. Othello’s love for Desdemona is weakened because they lost each other’s trust due to manipulation through other people’s word which reflects how easy human trust can be manipulated. Trust was lost between them due to Iago’s wicked schemed to construct Desdemona character into something completely different from how the audience perceiver her to be a big contributor to Othello losing faith in his own wife. Iago used how Desdemona character as a woman can be deceitful, her good virtue in helping Cassio turning their friendship into an affair and how unusual she a Venetian woman to be used to his advantage to manipulate Othello to believe Desdemona is cheating on him.